12 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



their wives for the maintenance of themselves and their 

 families. The men had also to find their own tea, coffee, 

 sugar, tobacco, and other articles. In the present day 

 whalers have better wages, though less oil money. Steam 

 has superseded sailing vessels, and the voyages are less 

 hazardous and more lucrative. 



To return to my narrative. Though we were badly 

 delayed by strong winds we did not despair. At the first 

 fishing grounds we did not see so many fish as in the last 

 voyage. The state of the ice made it more difficult to 

 thread our way, but we struck two whales, and after being 

 fast some seven or eight hours, the harpoons drew. Un- 

 fortunately we lost both fish, the ice being so closely packed 

 that the boats could not get to them. The season on the 

 east side was drawing to a close, and we began to look for 

 a north passage through Melville Bay. We got no further 

 than the Vrow Islands and Upernavik, the northernmost 

 settlement belonging to the Danes. We failed to get an 

 opening northward, on account of the lateness of the 

 season, and a consultation took place between the captains 

 of the ships who were sailing in company. It was resolved 

 to try the south end of the ice, and get a passage north on 

 the west side. We tried all the bights down southward 

 until we came off Cape Walsingham, on the west side. 

 Getting through the pack there, we succeeded in reaching 

 the so-called west water, and with a light fair wind we ran 

 up along the coast, distant about ten miles. We were 

 stopped by the ice several times for days. Ultimately we 

 arrived off Home Bay, but it was now September, and the 

 nights were increasing in darkness. 



A run of whales came down, and during the evening we 

 harpooned three large ones, and very fortunately succeeded 

 in killing -them. I well remember the night. It was still 

 and calm, the moon was at its full, moving in stately majesty 

 in unclouded sky Its soft beaming light fell upon ice and 



